Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698932055257.pdf (Namibia)
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ulun Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Republic of Namibia Ministerial Statement by Honourable Pohamba Shifeta, MP Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism to the National Assembly On the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the tourism sector and efforts to revive and reboot the sector 08 September 2021 WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA 1 The Tourist Statistical Report for 2020 shows that only 169, 565 (One Hundred Sixty-nine Thousand and Five Hundred and Sixty- five) tourists arrived in 2020 and it is notable that 81% of these arrived during the period January-March 2020 before the pandemic reached our shores.
This shows an overall decline of 89% in terms of tourist arrivals to Namibia in 2020 compared to 2019.

',:"ARLIAMENT LIBRARY Private Bag 13323, +264612882510 itVir,jho~k FAX: +2646'1239419 The tourism revival initiative statistic report for the period of September 2020 to March 2021, during which the tourism revival initiative has been implemented, shows that 61, 663 (Sixty-one Thousand Six Hundred and Sixty-three) international tourists arrived in the country.
This is below our expectation and is likely to be due to the trend for would-be travellers from source markets to stay home and the continued fear to travel.

Lockdown measures and travel restrictions in various countries also continue to hamper the recovery of the sector.

This situation has had an unprecedented impact on tourism businesses including amongst others restaurants, accommodation establishments, tour guides and tourism transport operators.
Businesses operating in the sector have had to endure declining revenues, scaling down of operations, capital losses, retrenchments and wage reductions, increased prices of inputs and disruptions to supply.

3 collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Services and others to help support the tourism recovery process.

We are doing all of this bearing in mind the need to balance the health and safety of both the local population and tourists traveling to this country; ii.
The sector has developed and adopted Covid-19 standard operating procedures for tourism businesses in Namibia.

iii.

Good collaboration with the private sector to ensure >- ~ ~ cohesion and creation of synergies in the planning, implementation of the good initiatives in the recovery (\)"- ~ Yo ~ ~.

I&.. 0 co ill ~~ process, - -I~ "-+ L- ~-~ r- I") LL ffi :~ ~ ~ ~ iv.

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J:~ on Covid-19 health protocols, the promotion/international and national awareness for Namibia as a safest tourist destination for all travellers; of domestic tourism, which has largely supported the industry through its survival stage in this time ~; of Covid-19.

Many establishments have introduced special packages and pricing for local travelers.
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has called and continues to call upon all tourism businesses and hospitality establishments to develop and offer packages tailor made for the domestic market; and v. Establishment of facilities to support tourism-related businesses such as the Conservation Relief, Recovery and Resilience Facility and initiatives from other institutions such as the Social Security Commission and Development Bank of Namibia.

5 market.
5 market.

We will also be participating in the Dubai 2020 World Expo from October 2021 to March 2022.

Tourism is one of the key business themes that Namibia will be displaying in terms of available investment opportunities in the sector and displaying its tourism attractions.
In closing Honourable Speaker, Honourable Members, The Ministry is calling upon all stakeholders in the sector to work together now that travel restrictions are being lifted to promote and aggressively market Namibia to both national and international travellers.

There is still hope in travel.

I thank you for your kind attention.

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